Width-maintaining wheel



May 20, 1930-` 'J l.. BRAKE I f 1,759,225l

WIDTH MAINTAINING WHEEL FiledAsept. 14', 1925 `5II|lIl l ll i i /6 /sglH /2 l5 v--Tw- I u o 5:

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Patented Maj zo, 1930 v JOHN L. Dunn, or TOLEDO, omo, Assrelvoaa` 'ro msnm-OWENS @Lass ToLEDo, omo, A conronATroN or orne PATENT OFFICE CQMPANY, l'

WIDTH-MAINTAINING WHEEL bApplication led September 14,1925. Serial' vIN1. 56,173.

' The present invention relates to sheet glass apparatus, and has particular reference to an improved form of sheet width maintalnlng means. v

In the Colburn Patent No. 1,248,809, grantover-a draw table, and through an annealing.

mass of molten glass, after which the sheet is deflected over a bendingmember, passed oven or leer. To prevent the sheet from narrowing at its base in the Colburn process, a pair of rotatable knurled rolls are positioned at each ed e of the sheet, one roll on each ,side thereo Although the knurled rolls are entirely satisfactory' as far as holding the sheet to width is concerned, they are not entirely satisfactory because of the comparatively high waste caused by their use. This waste consists of a thickened edge portion whichis in the neighborhood of 6 or 7 inches in width, the thickened portion extendmg from the edge of the sheet inwardly toward the lcenter'. As the same' amountof waste takes place at both edges of the sheet, the usable net width of sheet is much less than the gross Width of sheet originally drawn.

In the present invention it is an aim to provide'means that will be satisfactory as width maintaining means, while at the same time the amount of edge glass which must be removed when cutting the sheet into commercial sizes is considerably less than heretofore.

An important object is to provide a grooved wheel adapted forcontact with the edge of the sheet for holding the same to width.

Another object is to provide a rotatable Wheel having a groove at its periphery, -the edge of the sheet being drawn contacting with the wheel within the groove so that the sheet will be held to width, while at-th'e same time a slight lateral tension will be exerted on the sheet at its base, thus overcoming the tendency .of the sheet to contract, which conv traction causes slight surface defects in the vention will become a parent duringthe esc'ription. l

course of the following In the drawings wherein like numerals are n employed to deslgnate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentar transversel sec tion through one form o ap varatuswith which this device may be used? 'illustrating the device in. operation, Fig. 2 is a transverse llongitudinal section through' 011e form of apparatus, Y Fig. 3 is a similar view of a slightly modi: ed form of construction,

gig-4 is an elevation of-one of the wheels, an

Fig. 5 illustrates a form of coolery which may be used in conjunction with the rotatable wheel. u n

AlthoughA this invention is particularly well-adapted for use in connection with the Colburn machine above referred to, it is not necessarily limited to this specific construction.

Numeral 10 designates a draw-pot which,

es f

in the Colburn machine, isin open` commu- 1 1,'the sheet supplying meniscus 13 being at the base ofthe sheet 12. Abending rol is provided to defiect the sheet from one plane to another.

My improved construction consists of a rotatable wheel or disc 15, rotatably supported upon the bracket 16 carried by a, frame member 17. The wheel or disc 15 is provided in its periphery with the groove 18, adapted to contact with the edge 19-of the sheet 12. The wheel 15 carries a gear or pinion 20 adapted. to mesh with a drive gear or pinion 21 by which means the wheelis posltively driven in a manner to feed the glass upwardly. The temperature ofthe wheel 15 is prefyerably so controlled that there will be a tendl.

which is referably hollow, may be controlled by air w ich may be introduced through a plpe 22 and nozzle 23, orif desired through meniscus 13 is much thicker than the sheet 12 so that sufficient glass is drawn .into the groove 18 to form a beaded edge 25V or an edge'26 which is slightly different than the edge 25 because of the "fact that the groove is relatively'mueh deeper.

A scraper 27, carried by the troughed bracket 16 and having a shape approximately that of the groove within the periphery 18, is used to remove any'particles of glass or dirt that may stick to the wheel after the glass has left the same.

Fig. 1 clearly4 shows the edge 28-of the sheet being offset from the edge 29, illustrating'theveffect of thevlateral tension exerted yby tliewvheel. A substantially U-shaped cooler 30 may be used to lower the temperature of the thickened beaded edge 25 on the sheet as soon. as it leaves the rotatable wheel 1'5. I

Although this invention is illustrated in connection with the well-known Colburn machine, it is by no 4means necessarily restricted to this particular machine.

It is`to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described lis to be taken as the preferred embodimcntof the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit Vof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

It has been illustrated and described here# in that the groove wheels are positively driven by a set of bevel gears. The positive drive may be eliminated and in that event the rotation thereof will be dependent upon the traction created by the adhesion thereto of the upward traveling sheet edges. In order that relative speeds may exist between the periphery of the wheel and the sheet drawing mechanism, the wheel may be provided with a brake. The temperature of the members may be controlled by either cooling or heating them as the occasion so demands.

Claims:

1. In sheet glass apparatus, lmeans for drawing a sheet from a mass of molten glass, a grooved member engaging the border portions of the sheet, and a scraper disposed within the groove.

2. In sheet glassapparatus, means for drawing a sheet from a mass of molten glass, a grooved member engaging the border portion of the sheet, a support for the grooved member having a trough therein adapted to receive particles removed from the said member, and a scraper attached to one end of the trough.

3. In sheet glass apparatus, a width maintaining device comprising a disc member having a single groove in its periphery, means for mounting the disc so that its axis of rotation will be substantially at right angles to the surfaces of the ,sheet being formed, said dise being so arranged that the molten glassI going intol the border portion of the sheetwill be received within .said groove, means for rotating the disc in a mannerthat the bordcrportions of the sheet will be fed'upwardly and outwardly from thev main body portion thereof, and means for circulating a temperature control medium through the `v disc lso that the disc can be maintained at a temperature where the glass will have a tendency to stick thereto.

4. In sheet glass apparatus, a width maintaining device comprising adisc member having a singleY groove in its periphery, means for mounting the disc so that its axis of rotation will be substantially at right angles tothe surfaces of the sheetbeing formed, said disc being so arranged that the molten glass going into the border portions of the sheet will be` received within said groove, means for rotating the dise in a manner that .the border portions ofthe sheet will be fed upwardly and outwardly from the main body portion thereof, means for circulating a tempera/ture control medium through the disc so. that the disc `can be maintained at a temperature' where the glass will have a tendency vto stick thereto, and meansV for lcleaning the groove in the disc after the sheetv edgeleaves the same. 5. In` sheet glassV apparatus, a width maintaining device `comprising a disc member having a single groove in its periphery, means for mounting the` disc so that its axis of rotation will be substantially at right angles to the surfaces of the sheet being formed, said disc being so arranged that the molten glass going into the border portions lof the sheet will be received within said groove, means for rotating .the disc in a manner that the border portions of the sheet will be fed upwardly and-outwardly from the main body-portion thereof, means for circulating a temperature -control medium through the disc so that the disc can be maintained at a temperature where the glass will havea tendency to stick thereto, and a cooler surrounding the edge portion of the sheet and positioned above and immediately adjacent the disc.

6. In sheet glass apparatus, a width maintaining device eomprising a disc having a single groove in its periphery, the discbeingso formed that channels are provided for the reception of a moving temperature control medium, means for mounting the disc so that its axis of rotation will be substantially at right angles to the surfaces of the sheet being formed, said disc being so arranged that the molten glass going into the border portions of the sheet will be received within said groove, means for rotating the disc in a manner that the border portions of the sheet will be moved upwardly and outwardly from the main body portion thereof, and means for circulating a temperature control medium through the channels formed in said disc whereby to maintain the temperature thereof wherethe .glass will have a tendency to vstick thereto. 7. In sheet glass apparatus, a width maintaining device comprising a disc having a single groove in its periphery,the discbeingso formed that channels are'A provided vfor the reception of a moving temperature control medium, means for mounting the disc so that its axis of rotation will be substantially at right angles to the surface of theA sheet being formed, said disc being so arranged that the molten glass going into the border portions ofv the sheet will be received within said groove, means for rotating the disc in manner that the border portions of the sheet will 2'0 be moved upwardly and outwardly from the upwardly f and outwardly from the body ber, 1925.

.y JOHN L. BRAKE.

main body portion thereof, means Ifor circu-` lating a temperature control medium throucrh the channels formed in said disc whereb to maintain the temperature thereof where the glass will have a tendency to stick thereto, and heat absorbing means arranged above andclosely adjacent the disc member where? l by to absorb heat from the sheetedge yas it issues from the groove in said disc.

- 8. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle including sidewalls andv adapted to contain a massof'molten glass, means for drawing a sheet therefrom, a width maintaining device arranged at the base of the sheet at each edge thereof, .each width.maintaining device comprising 'a disc member mounted over one side wall ofthe` receptacle, the disc having asingle groove formed in its periphery, means yfor' mounting the disc so that its axis .of -rotation will be .substantially at right angles -to the surfaces of the glass :sheet being formed, means `for rotating the `discs in a manner that the glass going to make up the border portions of the. sheet will .be moved 45 upwardly and outwardly "from the body thereof, ,and .jmeans for circulating a temperature control medium through the disc whereby to control lthe tem erature of the dis'c in a manner that the g 50 tendency. to stick thereto. 9. :In sheetl glass apparatus, areceptacle including side walls and. adapted -to contain a' mass of molten 'glass,`meansfor drawing a sheet'therefrom, a width'maintaining device 55 thereof, each width maintaining device comprising a dise member mounted over one side wall\of the receptac1 e,'the dise having a sinfgle groove formed in its periphery, means for mounting the disc so that `itsfaxis o fv rotation willbe substantially at right angles to the surfaces of' the glass sheet' beingformed, .means for. rotating the discs in a manner that the glass lgoing to make up the border portions of the. will be moved ass will have a-.

arranged at the base' o f the sheet at each edge 

